18 years ago, seven people decided to ride the New York subway sans pants.

It probably wasn’t the first time that someone had boarded the New York Subway without pants, but the difference is that this time it was planned.

Now, almost two decades later, taking public transport pantless has become an annual event called the ‘No Pants Subway Ride’.

Here’s Newsweek:

What is the No Pants Subway Ride? It’s exactly what it sounds like. As the event’s website puts it: “The idea behind the No Pants Subway Ride is simple: Random passengers board a subway car at separate stops in the middle of winter without pants.

The participants behave as if they do not know each other, and they all wear winter coats, hats, scarves, and gloves. The only unusual thing is their lack of pants.”

Participants are encouraged to act as if nothing is wrong. You have to keep a straight face and photos are prohibited.

If anyone asks you why you’re pantless, you have to tell them that you forgot to put pants on. You should also insist that other pantless travellers are simply coincidental.

“You can wear fun underwear if you like, but nothing that screams out, ‘I wore this because I’m doing a silly stunt.’ Wear two pairs of underwear if it makes you feel more comfortable.

Don’t wear a thong or anything else that might offend people. Our aim is to make people laugh, not piss them off,” say the organizers.

The event, which started in New York, has expanded to include more than 60 cities around the world.

The day is planned and coordinated by a group called ‘Improv Everywhere’, who call it “an international celebration of silliness”.

Taking public transport without pants is still not a thing in South Africa, and it should probably stay that way.

I mean, would you hop on Metrorail basically bare-arsed?

[source:newsweek]